Uruguay, History

Charrua, Rio Negro, landing party, riverbanks, permanent settlement

The Charrua, a warlike and seminomadic indigenous people, originally occupied the land on the eastern side of the Uruguay and La Plata rivers. Spanish explorer Juan Diaz de Solis was the first European to arrive in the territory now included in Uruguay. In 1516 his landing party sailed into Rio de la Plata. That same year, the Charrua killed Solisís party on the riverbanks. Subsequent attempts to colonize the territory during the 16th century were discouraged by the Charrua. The first permanent settlement was made in 1624 by the Spanish on the Rio Negro at Soriano.